New Intake/Exhaust - Respecting the Power and Keeping my Hearing

[Shytheed Dumas]

So I just got my new Apexi Power Intake and full 3" exhaust this weekend - from the turbo elbow on back, no cats - and can't believe the quick spool and power increase. I had to leave work for a bit this morning because I forgot my laptop, and almost lost my baby pulling onto the street. A semi was coming the opposite direction kind of fast. I had enough time to pull out safely, but it was little tight so I got on it a tad hard. The turbo spooled up way faster than I'm used to and the rear end just came unglued. :icon_surp I damn near spun out right into the front of the truck, but got off the gas and countersteered back into my lane. I don't usually take stupid chances - just hadn't gotten used to the extra power yet. The respect is definitely there now.

As for the new exhaust - it's not bad outside, but the cabin resonance is so loud my wife doesn't want in the car right now. I'm a family guy and this is my daily driver, so I'm planning on keeping everything the same, but am planning on having a Flowmaster 50 or 60 Delta put on to keep cabin noise down and things flowing without spending too much. I know Flowmasters are not a favorite in this community, but I know a few of you run one. Is anybody using the 50 or 60 Delta series, specifically? Will it quiet things enough or do I need to add a 3" high flow cat, too? Any other comments or concerns, and how much power would I expect to lose?

Thanks
-Kurt

 

[supra90turbo]

hm. didn't notice your name was Kurt. That's cool. So is mine.

well, putting a flowmaster at the end is just a waste of making the exhaust 3"...

Heres what you should do. It'll keep the noise down, and still flow.
Run a high flow cat. The noise reduction by that alone is pretty good.
Inline muffler. I suggest using a center in-offset out or offset in-offset out type of high flow muffler. Making one or both of the in/outlets forces the exhaust to bounce through the perforation instead of most of it passing straight through.
Finish it off with a center 3" in, dual 2.5" out muffler and you've got a performance exhaust that flows good, looks stock, and sounds great, but isn't too loud.

 

[Steve_N]

Congrats Kurt, Glad your getting it together. Who did you get to do the exhaust? I agree 100% with Supra90turbo but get a universal resonator instead of a cat. We don't need cats for smog in louisville. Also It will flow a bit better & run $50-$75 off ebay. Now start looking for a full 3" elbow & start saving for some new rear tires.

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

It's great coming across another Kurt once in a while - lol. It's been a loooooong time since I came across another one.

Well, I hate to say it after reading your post, but I went ahead with the Flowmaster today. Truth is I didn't really notice much difference in terms of spool up or acceleration. Resonance was improved, but it's still a little rough, and most of the improvement came outside even though I got the delta version. I wish I'd waited a day or two, but I needed to do something quick and got it done.

I'm copying your suggestion to my "to-do/wishlist"list for 2007. Maybe I can get a $10 or $20 for a used flowmaster with 10k miles on it a year from now? I've got some brake work next, and if nothing else goes wrong until then, a paint job next winter to pay for first. I'm keeping mods to intake/exhaust since I'm running an OEM head gasket and ARP's at 77 ft-lb and an aging auto tranny and don't want to do another head gasket any time soon, and the 5 speed swap is pretty far down on the list.

Anyway, I am sure that anything that I did actually lose in switching from the 3" Screaming Banshee muffler to the flowmaster will be more than made up for when I finally get this f*$&ing KS rewire done right, and all of it beats the hell out of the stock system.

BTW, the original 3" is for sale with a couple of feet of 3" stainless in front of it if anybody cares to buy it, and if anybody wants a complete stock downpipe to tailpipe in good condition, send me a PM asap!

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

Hey Steve. Jon at MDC was looking to get rid of a full exhaust and was kind enough to install it for me. It actually included the full 3" elbow and downpipe, and what a freaking difference!! I can't wait to see what she does after the KS rewire is redone (correctly...)

There's a resonator, too, but it just doesn't seem to be doing much, so that's why I was considering the HF cat. I've definitely noticed more sulfur odor in the car that the cat would take care of, but I'm not sure I will buy one just yet.

 

[Steve_N]

Maybe you just need a longer resonator. Jon's the man, He'll hook you up with what you need. Good deal Look forward to seeing ya at the meet.

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

Maybe you just need a longer resonator. Jon's the man, He'll hook you up with what you need. Good deal Look forward to seeing ya at the meet.

Meet? Which one is that? I'm on vacation in Florida for Chicago, and I haven't seen anything for Louisville or anything else close by. Is something coming up, because I want to make something this year if I can.

EDIT: Just found the post in the local forum. Count me in - I'll respond there!

 

[GotToyota?]

Here's a link to a cheap but good 3" high flow cat if you're getting one.

http://suprastore.com/higflowsupca.html